So far this year there has been at least 22 reported drownings in Alberta since June, which is trending to be higher this year than last.

This data coming from the Lifesaving Society of Alberta and Northwest Territories, whose goal is to educate people and help prevent drownings.

Executive Advisor for the Society Barbara Costache says almost all drownings are preventable.

She says knowing how to swim is not always enough to prevent a drowning. 

“Our statistics tell us that swimmers drown. So being a good swimmer is a good layer of protection, but it’s not the only layer of protection that will help you. So definitely wear a life jacket, and again statistics clearly indicate that in a large percentage of incidents of drowning there is often alcohol or drugs involved.” 

Costache also says even the most experience swimmers can get into trouble if they underestimate the dangers of water, especially when they get caught up in the excitement of jumping into a body of water on a hot summer’s day.

 “It’s really just knowing your limits, and understanding that the attractiveness of water can be deceiving to the risks of it. There’s flowing water, so there’s river, currents, there’s deep water, and there is also water that can be colder, even in our summer months, so that can cause other impairments as well.”  

She says the most important device in water safety is a life jacket.

Police say a man who drowned on August 13th when his boat overturned on Sylvan Lake was not wearing a life jacket, neither was a 57 year old woman who drowned on Gull Lake the day before that.

According to the latest information from 2009-2013, put together by the Lifesaving Society, in partnership with the Drowning Prevention Research Centre, 63% of drownings occurred in natural bodies of water, with lakes claiming 37% followed by rivers and streams at 26%. 

The vast majority of drowning victims, 8 out of 10, are men. Seniors are also another group that is more susceptible to drowning. 

For more information on what the Lifesaving Society of Alberta and Northwest Territories does, you can visit their website here.